Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men tells the tragic story of George Milton and Lennie Smalls, two migrant ranch workers in Salinas, California. Published in 1937 and set during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Of Mice and Men explores the themes of loneliness and isolation. In a time when every man is for himself to survive, George and Lennie travel together and take responsibility for each other. They are seeking their version of the American Dream: to own a farm together “an' live off the fatta the lan’.” However, dreaming becomes desperation as circumstances continually conspire to rip it away. Because the novella is told in six parts, where each scene has a specific setting and the plot is chronological and dialogue driven, it has also been frequently adapted for the stage. Its first production in 1937 was written and produced by Steinbeck, himself.

Due to racism, profanity, and violence, Of Mice and Men is on the American Library Association’s list of the Most Challenged Books in the 21st Century. Of Mice and Men is still widely-taught in high schools across the United States eighty years after publication, not only because it is part of the literary canon, but because Steinbeck has packed so many literary devices and complex social issues into a tiny little package. This primary source set includes photographs, book excerpts, and documents that provide context for both events and themes in the novella.

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Created By

Susan Ketcham, East Central High School, St. Leon, Indiana

Time Period

Subjects

Susan Ketcham. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. 2018. Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America, http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/of-mice-and-men-by-john-steinbeck/teaching-guide. (Accessed February 22, 2019.)

APA citation style

Susan Ketcham, (2018) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America, http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/of-mice-and-men-by-john-steinbeck/teaching-guide

MLA citation style

Susan Ketcham. Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America <http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/of-mice-and-men-by-john-steinbeck/teaching-guide>.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Discussion questions

Read the excerpt from The Novels of John Steinbeck. In the excerpt, Moore discusses how the novella Of Mice and Men lends itself to a stage production. He even goes on to say that “the final shaping of it depends upon the artist’s own vision.” What modern actor would you cast in the stage production as Lennie? Who would you cast as George? Think about the characteristics each of these men possesses. Use textual evidence to defend your choice.

Read the excerpt from Legislation for the Feeble-Minded. In the novel, Lennie is described as simple-minded, almost childlike. In the pamphlet, where would Lennie fall under the “four classes of mental defectives” within the meaning of the act? Do you think Lennie would benefit from any of the legislation in this act? Why or why not? How does the language in this pamphlet reflect the attitude of the time towards people with disabilities?

Examine the photograph of the insane asylum. What can you tell about the conditions of this insane asylum? Why might George not have wanted Lennie to go to such a place?

Read the Robert Burns poem “To a Mouse.” Steinbeck titled Of Mice and Men after this poem. What is the poem about? How does the poem relate to the novella? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

How does the drawing of the ranch compare to Steinbeck’s vision of the ranch where Lennie and George work? This drawing depicts a farm sixty years prior to the setting in Of Mice and Men. What are some aspects of the drawing that are antiquated?

Throughout the novella, George describes the small farm they are going to buy and then “live off the fatta the lan’.” Look at the architectural drawing of a small farm and residence. How does this compare to the description George gives Lennie of the stake they plan to buy? How is it different? Do some research. How much would a place like that cost in the 1930s?

The Dr. Seuss political cartoon is an allusion to Of Mice and Men. What historical event does the political cartoon depict? How does it represent the themes in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men?

From the death of Curley’s wife to the mercy shooting of Lennie by George, violence is prevalent throughout Of Mice and Men. How does David Smith’s sketch “Private Law and Order Leagues” depict violence? What images within the drawing stand out in particular? What can you infer about the drawing and its relationship to the scene involving Crooks and Curley’s wife?

Classroom activities

Steinbeck opens Of Mice and Men with gorgeous imagery to describe the Salinas River Valley, the setting of the novella. Using the Valley Farms painting as your inspiration, draw/sketch the setting of your hometown. On pages 1-2 of Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck paints with his words. Using similar imagery, write a descriptive paragraph to accompany your artwork.

About This Guide

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